kevlee89

I know this question comes up a lot, but I still just had to ask because I've been seeing so many mixed thoughts on the usefulness of a sound card.

I was wondering if one would be useful in my situation..

I play a substantial amount of video games, but also do a fair share of listening to music and whatnot. Recording may also be a possibility down the line...not sure though.

I probably use speakers 50% of the time, and a headset 50% of the time, and they are..

headset: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16826106070

speakers:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836121126

if it makes any difference I'll most likely be using a DS3L motherboard..which I believe comes with 7.1 channel sound or something

But if not, I was planning on purchasing probably the fatal1ty x-fi sound card (just because the current rebate makes it the same price as the xtremegamer sound card anyways)

So, would it be worthwhile to purchase a sound card? Will I see improvements in sound quality etc etc? Thanks!

Aianiel

Sounds cards are just one of those added bonuses that really improve your gaming experience if you ask me. But like I said, it's an added bonus. You can plug in your speakers to the motherboard and get acceptable sound. In your case, you said you would be listening to a lot of music and possibly doing some recording. If you will be doing recording a sound card would be a great investment, and is strongly recommended.

So, a sound card is not required but can really add a lot. It's really up to you if you wish to get one or not, and if you buy a nice sound card there will be a substantial improvement in sound quality.

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kevlee89

okay, cool.

I have a couple more questions ..

I will be purchasing the fatal1ty x-fi xtremegamer sound card..and I was wondering if I should upgrade my speakers to perhaps the G51 or z-5300e to utilize the full potential of the sound card.

and also, my headphones are connected through USB..so would it still benefit from the sound card?

AcetheGamer

That would depend on your choice preference,if you got the budget why not? But i don't think there will be much of a noticeable difference between the two speakers though. The x-530 is good enough for me. Does the the fatality x-fi has a usb port? Because i don't think that yor headphone can utilize your soundcard if its just plug-in to yor mobo's usb port.

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kevlee89

aw really? is there some kind of usb gender changers for headsets?

PunterCam

If your computer comes with 7.1 onboard, I wouldn't buy another card. If you're really planning on doing some recording in the future then it could be a good idea, just make sure you get a card with an external i/o box. In terms of actual sound quality you won't hear a great deal if any difference. A seperate sound card does free up more processing speed during games though, so sound glitchs and pauses would be eliminated.

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Beyond

No. USB headsets have built in DAC's (digital-to-analog converters) which cannot be bypassed.

If you want better sound, use a desktop mic and invest in some better headphones. There are NO headphones on the market that have a mic AND sound good.

If you want an amazing set of headphones for gaming, and general music use as well, look into the Sennheiser HD595s, 580s, and Beyerdynamic DT-770s. Ultimately, the choice between the three will depend on what kind of music you listen to. If you're interested in this route at all, PM me or e-mail me and I'll be glad to help you out.

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